A/N: Here it is, the first real chapter. I, of course, claim no right to own Worm, nor do I own the Touhou Project. Forgot to mention that in the prologue. Anyways, please do comment and give constructive criticism. I can use it. After all, this is my first real story.

~enjoy!

Gensokyo 1.1

I fell into my makeshift bed at Marisa's house.

I felt horrible... Everything just ached. I was sore in places I didn't know existed.

It seemed that, while beautiful to look at, Danmaku just hurt. To fight against a pro at it hurt even more. While Marisa said I had talent, I don't think I'll look at stars ever the same again.

Several weeks had passed since I stranded here, and that Witch did her best to make sure every second was used. First lesson she taught me was dodging, one of the three core elements of Danmaku, along with producing bullets and organizing them in a pattern while dodging.

We'd started with having her shoot small projectiles at me while I'd have to dodge. While they didn't injure me -much- they hurt and I made sure to push myself so I would not get hit again not get hit again. That was basically the first week, along with exercises for my flexibility and stamina.

It was just exhausting, but the next step made it a bit easier... at first. Flying. She had really taught me how to fly, and it hadn't even been that hard. Being able to properly move in three directions instead of just staying on the ground was liberating. The sensations that came with being able to fly were truly incredible... Even if I needed a stupid stick of wood for it. Screw you Marisa, you stereotypical witch.

Even though I had to use a broom, it still was another kind of awesome in it's own right. Altough flies being squashed on your shirt because of the speed the broom flew at wasn't that cool. I wondered how flying capes deal with that.

Well, anyways. It was awesome and made dodging easier... at first. Turned out that me being able to dodge in more directions just gave Marisa a reason to spam me with even more bullets, weaving more complex patterns. And once I'd found out her style she just used some different „spell card", I think they were called, which stored another pattern.

Once she even set me up against her „neighbour"... not really neighbour because the other girl, Alice, wasn't exactly living close by.

Alice was a doll user, as it turned out. Shooting lasers... what was that with all the lasers?!

But she was nice, I guess. I also found out that Danmaku battles usually end with Tea being served, something about maintaining a friendship even if they fought just a few minutes before.

The good news was that I would soon get away from only dodging all the time and finally be taught how to actually produce bullets. But for now I'd just rest in .. my... comfort-... snore

The next day

I woke up to the sun shining in my face and the sounds of birds singing. A relaxing scene, truly.

I was sure that scene wouldn't last long... Three... Two... One... Crash

„G'morning Tays! Breakfast is ready! Hope you're okay with mushroom bread and tea, it's the best I've managed to make in a while, da ze!"

I looked at the blonde who just disturbed my inner peace after waking up. Mercilessly I might add. Seeing her honest-to-god grin made that anger at her intrusion evaporate like hot water. I just couldn't bring myself to be angry at her for long, her attitude didn't help much in keeping me angry.

„I'm coming, alright. I'll be down in five minutes.", that seemed to satisfy her and she promptly made her way downstairs.

Walking down said stairs a few minutes later, my mouth already began to water. My stay here had really changed many of my habits, my appetite being one of those. My humour another one. My habits generally shifted to be more similar to Marisas. I guess that if you spent every waking hour with one person and one person only, sharing stories, training, travelling and fighting together, you became rather similar. And since I really didn't have that much of a dominant personality, I practically absorbed hers.

Breakfast was good, and after we had eaten, we readied ourselves and went outside. As we came to a halt just before Marisas house said girl promptly turned around and clapped her hands.

„Alright! We're now officially trough with the dodging lessons.", she told me with a smile, much to my relief: „And that means we can finally start the really exhausting part, ze! For now you'll be learning how to form those bullets. After your warm-up. Now, what are ya waiting for! Get going, da ze!"

I began my stretches and standard... I guess you could say katas. I'm not sure if Danmaku could officially be called a martial art, but it sure was pretty similar.

Half an hour later I was satisfied with my progress and began to walk over to where Marisa was writing some kind of magic circle on a blackboard she got from somewhere, she probably 'borrowed' it.

„Now, from today on you'll have the honour to be my student in the arts of magic, da ze! I'll be teaching you pretty much everything as long as you're able to keep up.", she said proudly with a wink of her eyes at the last statement: „But before we can delve deep into actual magic or Danmaku we need you to be able to summon your energy...", and just like that she began rattling of explanations I could barely follow. I had the feeling this was going to be a long day...

Several weeks later

„... And now that we've cleared all misunderstandings about the conservation of energy and principle of Danmaku we're finally gonna move on to the funny stuff, ze!", Marisa said in her 'teacher's voice'.

We spent the last weeks talking about working through spiritual energy, basic magic principles, basic summoning and a little bit of alchemy. The good thing about being worked to near death every day was that you got pretty strong and confident in your abilities. After all, you did practice them almost non-stop.

We were finally going to begin with advanced magic, and as a part of it, Spellcards! We had already worked through the theory of Danmaku battles several times, the rules weren't that hard to memorize either. Now that I knew something about it, magic was actually pretty darn interesting. All the possibilities and variables... It really reminded me of computer classes with Mrs Knott, the ones I liked so much back in Winslow... Oh god... I'm sounding like I miss that place!

„Now, the core principles! Shoot as many bullets as you can! Leave your enemy space to dodge, no unfair projectiles! And the most important of them all... create awesome looking patterns, da ze!", while naming the last 'principle' Marisa started grinning: „Now I'll demonstrate one and you'll show me what one of your own moves, ze! If the pattern feels right to you it should manifest as a spell card.", then she added as an afterthought: „ Oh, but don't worry if you're not able to produce spellcards on your first few tries... Everybody has their own specific style, and not everybody finds theirs easily."

She flew upwards on her broom. Coming to a half 50 meters above the ground, she took out a small card. I even recognized the picture on it, it was her trademark spell (cough...she actually 'borrowed'...cough).

„LOVE SIGN: MASTER SPARK"

...BOOOOOOOM... And off went the rainbow of doom.

„Now, your turn, da ze!"

I, too, flew upwards. Though about a pattern i'd like to use... I couldn't think of any pattern. Met with my failure at that I tried a different approach. I simply let my magic go rampant. But somehow, I managed to get it into an organized pattern. It was flowing in a harmonic design almost by itself...

I opened my eyes again... Only for them to be met with bright stars swirling around me in a dazzling pattern... hm.. I think I've seen this one before...

„HEY! STOP STEALING MY SPELLCARDS, DA ZE!", I just couldn't resist responding to that...

„Don't worry Marisa!", I assured her with a smile: „ I'm just borrowing it! You'll get it back... eventually." That's that!

„T-that's- wha- uh-", Marisa muttered while blushing, pulling her witch's hat over her face... Actually blushing! Man, I got her good.

A bit later we were discussing what had happened.

„So... Why did you use my spell card again?"

„I don't really know... I couldn't think of a pattern... So I just decided to let my magic flow. Organize itself. Sorry if I stole something from you.", I replied while looking down.

„Nah, that's alright... I was just surprised, really.", after a second of thought she added: „I found out about my magic-style the same way. Maybe we do actually have the same one! Imagine what we could do with that, da ze!", as she told me this laughter began to slowly subside and her face formed a very vulpine grin while her eyes sparkled mischievously... Oh no. What have I done!?